122 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



THE WHITE-THROATED PRICKLY-TAILED SWIFT. 



The White-throated Prickly-tailed Swift (Acanthylis caudacuta) is about eight inches and 

 a half long, and twenty broad ; the wing measures eight and the tail two inches. The head, upper 

 tail-covers, sides of the wings, quills, and tail are pale black, with a metallic greenish blue gloss ; the 

 back and shoulder-feathers are whitish brown, the breast and nape white. The under side is blackish 

 brown, the lower wing-covers and a streak on the side of the head are white, more or less intermixed 

 with glossy, blackish blue feathers. The inner web of the secondary quills is also white ; the beak is 

 black, the foot lead-colour, and the eye deep brown. 



We learn from Jerdon that this species is found in the south-eastern provinces of the Himalaya, 

 Nepaul, Sikkim, and Bhotan, and that its flight is extraordinarily light and rapid. The breeding 

 settlements are generally at a considerable height in the mountains, but always below the snow 

 boundary. The strange prickly tail appears to be employed to assist the bird while climbing. 

 Further particulars as to its habits and mode of life are entirely wanting. 



THE DWARF SWIFT. 

 The Dwarf Swift (Cypsdus parvus) is a small species found in some parts of Central Africa, 

 where it usually frequents the forests or woodland districts. Its length does not exceed five inches 

 and a half, and its breadth is eleven inches. The plumage is almost entirely dark grey, lightest 

 upon the throat ; the wings are of a brownish hue. In its general habits the Dwarf Swift resembles 

 its congeners, but the structure of its nest is so remarkable as to merit a minute description. 

 Brehm tells us that upon one occasion, whilst travelling in the vicinity of the Blue River, he was 

 attracted by cries uttered by one of these birds as it flew backwards and forwards near a lofty palm 

 whose branches towered above the surrounding trees. On going nearer the spot, he observed that 

 the Swift kept disappearing, as it were, within one of the large, fan-like leaves, against the glossy 

 green of which several white objects were distinctly visible. Thinking this circumstance somewhat 

 extraordinary, he climbed the tree, and found, to his no small astonishment, that the said green leaf 

 was the nest, and the white objects, the eggs, of the noisy bird. We should, perhaps, be more 

 accurate if we said that the leaf formed the outer part of the nest, the actual chamber for the young 

 being composed of cotton wool and feathers, fastened together with saliva, and in shape resembling a 

 round spoon : the interior did not exceed two inches and a half in diameter." Guided by a most 

 wonderful instinct, this little builder seems perfectly aware of the danger to which its aerial abode 

 is exposed from a strong wind, and takes the very safe precaution of gumming with her tenacious 

 spittle not only the nest and eggs, but the nestlings also, firmly to the leaf. Another peculiarity in 

 the domestic arrangements of this species is that the two white eggs that compose a brood are 

 fastened end upwards, in the very limited bed prepared for their reception. 



THE PALM-TREE SWIFT. 



The Palm-tree Swift (Cypse/us palmarum) constructs its nest in a very similar manner to the 

 Dwarf Swift. 



THE STEEPLE SWIFT. 



The Steeple Swift (Cypse/us apus) is from six to seven inches long and fifteen and a half 

 broad ; its wing measures six and a half, and tail three inches. Its plumage is of a blackish brown, 

 with the exception of the throat, which is white; the eyes are brown, the beak and feet black. 



The Steeple Swifts are met with throughout the southern countries of Europe, in Central Asia, 

 and over the entire continent of Africa. They appear in Europe with the utmost regularity on the 



